Sandwiched between World Food Day and U.S. Food Day, Vallejo will play host to a new event on Saturday, focused on issues ranging from obesity and hunger to urban farming and healthy eating.

Organizers hope to grow this weekend”s, “Just Food — Celebrating Locally Grown” panel discussion and documentary-viewing into an annual event that helps bring together the community around a myriad of food-related issues.

“This event can meet people wherever they”re at, wherever they want to be involved,” said event founder and Vallejo City Councilwoman Marti Brown.

Brown said her first solicitation for interest in this weekend”s event earned overwhelming support on Facebook and beyond.

“I think it”s really to educate and heighten our awareness as a community around food and health issues,” Brown said.

Though juxtaposing obesity matters and hunger issues may seem an unlikely pairing, Brown said, the two are often linked by poverty — something the Just Food”s speaker panel will address.

Expenses for the event, which will be held at the California Maritime Academy”s Rizzo Auditorium, will be primarily covered by donations from Kaiser Permanente Vallejo Medical Center and Sutter Solano Medical Center. Tickets are $10 in advance (www.brownpapertickets.com), or $15 at the door, with proceeds after expenses donated to Friends of Loma Vista Farm and the Vallejo-based Food Rescue program.

Doors open at 4:30 p.m., with the panel discussion set for 5 p.m. Also included in the event will be light “farm to table” food, a local wine and beer tasting, free homemade spiced cider and jazz played by the Dalt Williams Trio.

Contact staff writer Jessica A. York at (707) 553-6834 or jyork@timesheraldonline.com. Follow her on Twitter @JYVallejo.